USCIRF Condemns The “Unjustified” Release Of Bilkis Bano Rape Convicts, Calls It “Part Of Pattern Of Impunity In India”
The release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case created outrage in the country. The culprits were released from the Godhra jail under Gujarat’s new remission policy. Moreover, the rapists were greeted with sweets and tika on their release. The news has not only been condemned by the citizens but now the United States Of Commission on International Religious Freedom has also come forth to put their opinion on the judgement and slammed it. The USCIRF on Friday condemned the release of the convicts and in their tweet, they called it “unjustified.”
The Bilkis Bano rape case happened in 2002 after the Godhra riots, in which Bilkis Bano lost 13 of her family members. In the tweet made from the official Twitter handle of USCIRF, the statements from its Commissioner and Vice Chair have been quoted. The Commissioner of USCIRF Stephen Schneck called the judgement a failure on the part of the justice to hold the sexual assault culprits accountable for the crime they committed. The tweet further read that “It’s part of a pattern of impunity in India for those engaged in violence against religious minorities.”
USCIRF Commissioner @StephenSchneck: “The failure to hold accountable perpetrators of the 2002 Gujarat Riots who committed physical & sexual violence is a travesty of justice. It's part of a pattern of impunity in India for those engaged in violence against religious minorities."
— USCIRF (@USCIRF) August 19, 2022
In another tweet, the USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper said that the USCIRF strongly condemned the release and called it an “early and unjustified” judgement for the crime against a pregnant Muslim woman and the killing of Muslim victims in the Gujarat riots in 2002.
USCIRF Vice Chair Abraham Cooper: “USCIRF strongly condemns the early and unjustified release of 11 men sentenced to life in prison for raping a pregnant Muslim woman and committing murder against Muslim victims during the 2002 Gujarat Riots.” #India https://t.co/Zqj2JjMaYb
— USCIRF (@USCIRF) August 19, 2022
The culprits served their time for more than 15 years in jail but one of them moved to the court with a plea for their early release. It was shocking that their plea was granted. Bilkis Bano too put forth her statement after their release and highlighted the fact that her safety and concerns were not considered by the court before setting the culprits free.
Also Read: BJP’s CK Raulji Justifies Bilkis Bano’s Rapists’ Release. Yes Sir, “Good Sanskaar” Is Why They Were Convicted Of Rape…
This judgement was so wrong!
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